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I don't know anything about the 8K vs. 10K thing. I agree that it doesn't make much sense. It could be to reduce wear and tear during the season. The women will often (but not always) run 5K's during the season and then 6K at the NCAA Regionals and Finals.

Nuc, I don't know what your definition of nervous is in this context. If it's that they won't be an NCAA podium team (top 4 at the NCAA Finals) I'm guessing that you should be very nervous. Only being ranked 15 is almost certainly overkill, but they haven't done anything to justify anything higher. They have a home meet this weekend, but I'd be very surprised if they ran any heavy artillery in that race with the Big Ten's coming up the next weekend. It's puzzling to me that they are holding this meet at all. Maybe it's just another option if they feel somebody needs the work or to let the redshirts get out there. I'm guessing it will be mostly a D3 type meet.

They are lucky to be in a weak regional so that they don't have to run hard in meets to accumulate at-large points in case they don't finish in the top two at the regionals.. A bunch of teams ran balls to the wall at the NCAA Pre-Nats in Terre Haute last weekend. Good luck for them trying to maintain the peak for five weeks or to come down and then trying to get back up.

My best guess for the so-so performance at their home meet a couple of weeks ago is that they were training through the meet. If so, the odds are decent that a couple of guys will have dead legs that day or otherwise just not have it. What was strange is that it was the veterans who struggled and the young guys were pretty good. The above is certainly a gross oversimplification, but it's the best I can come up with.

We should have a good feel for the team after the Big Ten's on 11/1. Right now a podium NCAA finish would appear to be a longshot, but I'd be surprised and very disappointed if they were not a top 10 team or even about top 7. Byrne will likely have a press conference on Monday, so it will be interesting to see what he says and if any of the true freshman will be running. Unlike his predecessor, he seems to say what he thinks at those things.